ENJOYING THE DAY
Wants ‘checks, balances’ in Ohio government
Rep. Larry Householder, the former Ohio House Speaker currently under federal indictment on bribery and racketeering charges, has introduced legislation that would let county commissioners revoke their local health orders and state lawmakers strike the governor's executive orders with a simple majority vote.
The first bill, which has yet to receive a number, would let county commissioners modify or remove countywide orders issued by county boards of health. A similar bill that would let state lawmakers reject Gov. Mike Dewine's health orders is working its way through the legislature.
Householder, a Glenford Republican,
said in a statement “unelected boards need to be held accountable by elected officials”
“This bill adds a well-deserved balance between the people and the unelected board, something our state so desperately needs during these times we've been facing,” he said.
Separately, Householder proposed amending the Ohio Constitution to allow the Legislature to modify or terminate any executive order from the governor with a simple majority vote. That plan would first have to be approved by three-fifths of state legislators in both chambers and a majority of voters on the May 2022 ballot.
“This resolution would exemplify a true checks and balances system in Ohio government, something we haven't seen in a very long time,” Householder said.
Dewine has used orders from his department of health director as well as executive orders to close businesses and schools, require residents to stay at home and establish safety protocols to reduce the spread of the novel coronavirus.
Local boards of health have the ability to set stricter orders than the state.
The bills are the first pieces of legislation the former speaker has sponsored since the new General Assembly started in January.
Householder wasn't appointed to any House committees, and House Speaker Bob Cupp, R-lima, has consistently called on him to resign from office.
But Cupp hasn't moved toward expelling Householder from office – something all House Democrats and some House Republicans say is necessary given the gravity of the charges against him.
“We will handle the bills as we would any other according to the rules of the House,” Cupp said.
Federal investigators claim Householder orchestrated a $61 million bribery scheme to pass a nuclear bailout bill for two northeast Ohio power plants.
Two people, Householder's political strategist Jeff Longstreth and Firstenergy
Solutions lobbyist Juan Cespedes, have pleaded guilty to felony racketeering.
The dark money group that spent millions on a number of Ohio House races has also signed a guilty plea.
In November 2020, Cupp told reporters he wouldn't expel Householder until the new General Assembly started in January 2021 because of a quirk in Ohio law.
Now, two months into the new twoyear legislative term, Cupp has repeated the same line to reporters whenever they ask about expulsion: We are consulting with our members.
NEWARK - Amara White's family members cried as they recounted celebrating her first birthday two weeks before she was killed from injuries sustained in a hit-and-run crash in Newark last December.
Instead of watching the toddler open her presents on Christmas Day, her grandmother said they held her hand and told her goodbye.
The man charged in the crash, Cory J. Bush, 36, of Newark, on Wednesday was handed an 11.5 to 14-year prison sentence after he admitted to hitting Nandini Agarwal, who was pushing her 1-yearold granddaughter, Amara, in a stroller with his vehicle, leaving the scene and lying to law enforcement about his involvement.
Following a two day trial, a jury of seven women and five men deliberated for a little over an hour before finding Bush guilty of failure to stop after an accident, a second-degree felony; aggravated vehicular homicide, a third-degree felony; vehicular assault, a fourthdegree felony; and falsification, a firstdegree misdemeanor.
On the afternoon of Dec. 23, Newark police and fire were called to the area of Londondale Parkway for the report of a crash involving a pedestrian. Agarwal and White were taken to Columbus area hospitals.
Agarwal survived her injuries, but White died two days later. The driver of the vehicle, who fled the scene, was later identified as Bush.
Dallas White's body shook, but his voice was strong when he told Bush all he got to experience with his daughter was one year of her life before she was taken from their family.
"I just want justice. Fifteen years isn't even enough," White said. "It's not fair I have to live every day of my life without my daughter."
Brenda White, Dallas' mother, was supported by her husband, Jay, as she emotionally read a prepared statement. She began by saying she wasn't sure her words would matter to Bush, because anyone who could hit a grandmother and baby with their car then run and hide like a coward couldn't have conscious.
"We just celebrated Amara's first birthday two weeks before you took her life, and we were all so happy," Brenda White said. "We were looking forward to having Christmas with her and watching her open her presents and instead because of you, we held her hand, kissing her and said goodbye on Christmas Day." The grandmother said she'd considered bringing a photo of Amara to the hearing, but thought otherwise because all she would see is Bush's tears - not for her granddaughter, but for himself. She said those have been the only tears he's had.
If Bush had just stopped his vehicle after hitting them and called for help, Brenda White said the situation would've been totally different. As a single father of two, she questioned how Bush would feel if someone had done that to his children.
The toddler's aunt and Agarwal's oldest daughter shared how her mother had come to the United States to see Amara born and spend time with her, but now could only think about their last walk together.
She too reflected on their family's celebration of Amara's first birthday and how excited they were to experience all her "firsts." The woman said her 8month-old son was supposed to be raised alongside Amara as siblings, but now his milestones will be marred by her loss.
Her mother, she said, had struggled her entire life to make sure her children were successful, and now has nothing but a crippled body she cannot enjoy their successes with.
"I really really hope you get the maximum sentence for the damage you've done to this family," she told Bush.
Amara's uncle, Jacob Hindel, said he hoped the judge could see the full effect of what Bush had done to their family.
Assistant Licking County Prosecutor Cliff Murphy mentioned Bush's prior convictions and incarceration during his sentencing recommendation. The entire case, he said, was about lying.
"He put the family through hell," Murphy said, noting the only time Bush has seemed to show remorse was when he had to face consequences for his actions. Murphy asked Judge Thomas Marcelain to consider a sentence in the high end of the range.
Defense attorney Chris Brigdon said throughout the court proceedings, his client had demonstrated genuine remorse and a sense of guilt. He noted in November, Bush had checked himself into a rehabilitation facility and after receiving custody of his young children, had been taking steps to right his life and become a productive citizen.
Bush tearfully apologized to the victims' family, saying he was sorry for all he'd put them through. He said prior to the crash, he was distracted by another kid and didn't know what he hit until he hit it.
He said if he could give his life to give them Amara White back, he would.
Noting Bush had the opportunity to do the right thing yet didn't, Marcelain said he was inclined to follow the prosecutor's recommendation. He also noted a pre-sentence investigation showed Bush tested positive for marijuana on Dec. 24, one day after the crash.
The judge sentenced Bush to 11.5 to 14 years in prison with the lower end being the expected sentence and additional time possible to be added for bad behavior while incarcerated.
Upon release from prison, Bush will be required to complete three years of post-release control.